1. National Apprenticeship Service
Information, advice and guidance you need to know to support individuals to apply for Apprenticeships
National Apprenticeship Service
Lucy Richards - November 2013

2. Session Overview Apprenticeship facts and stats
Overview and updates of Apprenticeship frameworks, levels and career progression routes
Opportunities and benefits of using our national Apprenticeship jobs site (Apprenticeship vacancies) and improved system changes
Top tips and practical examples of how to support an individual to search and apply for Apprenticeship vacancies.
Available materials and resources designed to support Teachers, Tutors, Careers Advisers and Educators
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3. Raising the Participation Age (RPA)
Raising the participation age (RPA) does not mean young people must stay in school; they will able to choose one of the following options:
Full-time education, such as school, college or home education
Work-based learning, such as an Apprenticeship
Part-time education or training if they are employed, self-employed or volunteering for 20 hours or more a week.
The government has increased the age to which all young people in England must continue in education or training, requiring them to continue until the end of the academic year in which they turn 17 from 2013 and until their 18th birthday from 2015.
This means that pupils who left year 11 in summer 2013 need to continue in education or training until at least the end of the academic year in which they turn 17. Pupils starting year 11 or below in September 2013 will need to continue until at least their 18th birthday.

4. National Apprenticeship Service What we do
Responsible for Apprenticeships in England
Provides a dedicated service to both employers and learners offering free, impartial advice and support
Responsive and customer focussed web and telephone service for small and medium sized employers (under 250 employees)
For larger employers (250+ employees), our Employer Account Managers offer a dedicated, personalised support responding to meet employers needs
National Apprenticeship Service provides a dedicated service to employers, offering free, impartial advice and support to those looking to recruit apprentices for the first time or those looking to expand their Apprenticeship programme.
For small and medium sized employers (under 250 employees), our specialist small business support team provides a responsive and customer focussed web and telephone service which offers a high quality, tailored experience to each employer
For larger employers (250+), our Employer Account Managers who are expert Apprenticeship advisers, offer dedicated and personalised support, responding to meet employers needs around training and recruitment. We offer impartial advice on whole workforce development strategies which can include a direct grant arrangement. Our advisers support employers to procure, promote and deliver the training they need in the way that works best for their business.
National Apprenticeship Service

5. Apprenticeships Basics
A job with training
Minimum of 12 months
Minimum of 30 hours a week
Minimum hourly wage is £2.68
National average pay is £200 per week (according to pay survey 2011)
Available to anyone over the age of 16 living in England
Contract of employment
Entry requirements vary
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6. Apprenticeships – The facts
Open to all ages although government funding prioritised towards 16 to 18 year olds
Over 520,600 people started an Apprenticeship in 2011/12
129,900 were year olds 161,400 aged ,300 aged 25+
After finishing their Apprenticeship, the majority of apprentices (85%) will stay in employment, with two-thirds (64%) staying with the same employer.
A third (32%) of all former apprentices had received a promotion within 12 months of finishing, and of those in work, three quarters (75%) reported taking on more responsibility in their job.
Over 100,000 employers employ apprentices in 200,000 locations
National Apprenticeship Service
National Apprenticeship Service

7. Apprenticeships-The facts
In 2012/13 provisional data shows 39% of apprentices this year starting Advanced or Higher Apprenticeships.
84% of employers were satisfied with the programme, with 70% reporting that apprentices improved their productivity.
The number of Apprenticeship vacancies that are advertised on the National Apprenticeship vacancies on-line system varies from day to day. The highest number of Apprenticeships recorded in the last three months was 20,615 (on 21st June 2013)
Success Rates 31% 2004/05 to 74% 2011/12 Source: SFR
National Apprenticeship Service

8. Level of Apprenticeships
Different levels of Apprenticeship available
Intermediate
Apprenticeship
Advanced
Higher
Level 2
12-18 months
Equivalent to 5 GCSEs A* - C
Level 3
18-48 months
Equivalent to 2 A-levels
Levels 4,5,6,7
24 months+
Equivalent to foundation degree level+
Intermediate Level Apprenticeships:
Work-based learning qualifications such as a Level 2 Competence Qualification, Functional Skills and, in most cases, a relevant knowledge-based qualification.
Advanced Level Apprenticeships:
Work-based learning such as a Level 3 Competence Qualification, Functional Skills and, in most cases, a relevant knowledge based qualification.
Higher Apprenticeships:
Work-based learning qualifications such as a Level 4 Competence Qualification, Functional Skills and, in some cases, a knowledge-based qualification such as a Foundation Degree. (Higher Apprenticeships now go up to Level 7 - equivalent to a Master degree)
Some Apprenticeships already attract UCAS points or allow you to study for a Technical Certificate. Once the Apprenticeship has finished there’s the opportunity to carry on working, maybe get promoted or go on to higher education in a college or university.
The National Apprenticeship Service is working with UCAS to extend this system so that more qualifications gained during an Apprenticeship count towards an individual’s university application.
Plus knowledge, competence, and employability skills
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9. Rising numbers of apprentices
162,000 people started an Apprenticeship in 2001/02
Over 500,000 people started an Apprenticeship in 2011/12
National Apprenticeship Service

10. Progress your career with Higher Apprenticeships
It has widely been said that you have to choose between university and Apprenticeships
This is not entirely true as with new Higher (degree level) Apprenticeships on offer, young people can complete an Apprenticeship and work their way up to degree level qualifications.
There are more than 250 Apprenticeship frameworks available in over 1,400 job roles in a wide range of industries, from engineering to financial advice, veterinary nursing to accountancy. 10

11. What about higher education?
Higher Apprenticeships are expanding to degree level and above
Level 4 (Certificate of Higher Education)
Level 5 (Foundation Degree)
Level 6 (Bachelor’s Degree)
Level 7 (Master’s Degree)
Higher Apprenticeships:
Designed to enable a learner in employment develop the technical knowledge and occupational competence to perform a defined job role at a specified level
Employer led focused on developing the higher level skills particular sectors need
Higher Apprenticeships respond to employers’ higher level skills needs:
Support business growth
Meet individuals’ career aspirations
Enhance opportunities for social mobility
Owing to demand from business and backing from the Government Higher Apprenticeships are expanding to degree level and above
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12. Current Higher Apprenticeship Frameworks Level 4
Accounting
Advertising and Marketing Communications
Advanced Manufacturing Engineering
Business and Administration
Contact Centre Operations
Employment Related Services
Facilities Management
Food and Drink
Hospitality Management
IT, Software, Web and Telecoms Professionals
Life Sciences and Chemical Science Professionals
Mineral Products Technology
Professional Services: Audit, Tax, Management Consultancy
Project Management
Providing Financial Advice
Public Relations
The Water Industry
Also, Level 4 frameworks currently being developed:
Banking
Creative and Digital Media: Interactive Media
Engineering Environmental Technologies
Fashion and Textiles: Technical
Insurance
Legal Services
Power Engineering
Retail Management
Sustainable Building Technologies
Sustainable Resource Management
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair
Work Based Learning for Practitioners
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13. Current Higher Apprenticeship Frameworks Level 5
Adult Social Care
Construction in the Sustainable Environment
Construction Technical and Professional
Express Logistics
Facilities Management
Healthcare Science
Human Resource Management
Innovation and Growth
Life Sciences and Chemical Science Professionals
Management
Supply Chain Management
In the majority of cases completing a Higher Apprenticeship can also lead to recognition by appropriate professional bodies and institutions e.g. level 5 in Human Resource Management leads to Associate membership of CIPD
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14. What is the demand for Higher Apprenticeships?
Higher Apprenticeship starts over the past five years;
2007/
2008/
2009/
2010/
2011/
2012/ (Q3 provisional) Source: SFR
National Apprenticeship Service

15. Apprenticeship vacancies
Our national Apprenticeship jobs site (Apprenticeship vacancies)
There are up to 20,000 vacancies on the website at any one time 15

16. Where to access Apprenticeship vacancies www.apprenticeships.org.uk

17. How to search for Apprenticeship / Traineeship vacancies
When looking for a Traineeship search by type – here you can also search by Apprenticeship level e.g. Intermediate, Advanced &Higher Apprenticeship
Log In
Recommended Search by Post code
Register for the first time

18. Apprenticeship vacancies
93,160 registrations in 2008/ Now nearly 570,000
470,000 posted vacancies to date
128,000 Apprenticeship vacancies posted 2012/13
50,000 applications in 2008/ ,403,000 in 2012/13
Apprenticeship vacancies are now uploaded to the Job centre plus universal job match.
National Apprenticeship Service

19. Register to use Apprenticeship vacancies
It only takes a few minutes to register on Apprenticeship vacancies. Candidates just need to provide their name, address and contact details and set up a user name and password.
Candidates can now choose to use their address as their username so there’s one less thing to remember.
Once registered the candidate will receive an activation , which they’ll need to click into to access the system for the first time.
Careers advisers or anyone supporting individuals to apply for Apprenticeships can set up a ‘Stakeholder Login’ for themselves. This is set up by going to the Partners page of the website and clicking on ‘Stakeholder Login’ and ‘Register New User’.

20. Vacancy Details
Once registered a candidate can continue to search for vacancies and can save searches and search results to come back to later.
Each vacancy listing gives detailed information (shown here) about the job, including the employer, training, pay and the qualifications you will be working towards. Each vacancy is real job opportunity with an employer.
Candidates can set up Alerts so that they are notified by or text when new vacancies which fit their ‘favourite search’ criteria.

21. Reusable Application Form
Candidates can set up their reusable application form, which can be adapted for each role they apply for.
Applying for vacancies:
Candidates just click on an ‘Apply’ button at the bottom of a vacancy
Manage Applications
Candidates can easily manage their applications and see where each one is up to from the ‘Manage Applications’ section in their account.
Our downloadable guide ‘How to write a winning applications form’ gives lots of detailed information to support candidates in applying for an Apprenticeship.
We have a dedicated Helpdesk for any technical queries

22. Top tips when applying for Apprenticeships
Applying for Apprenticeships is a competitive process so candidates need to take care with their application form and thoroughly prepare if they’re invited to interview.
They can make as many applications as they wish – we recommend up to 10 at any one time
Make sure they have an appropriate address and voice mail and that usernames and passwords are easily remembered
Many candidates do not sell themselves on their application forms and only give one and two word answers. Make sure they give plenty of relevant information
Include any work experience whether paid or not.

23. Top tips when applying for Apprenticeships
Don’t forget to check their applications before sending
Ensure they have considered how they will travel to the job if successful
Preparation for the interview/assessment centre is paramount, many people are not adequately prepared
Take copies of application and vacancy printout to interview
Thoroughly read information regarding interview/assessment centre
Prepare a couple of questions to ask at interview
Think about why they are interested in the job role and an Apprenticeship to mention during the interview

24. Top tips when applying for Apprenticeships
Competitive - Encourage them not to be put off if they’re not successful the first time
Remind them they can ask for feedback from the learning provider/college
The National Careers Service:
Contact the Apprenticeship Helpdesk for queries regarding Apprenticeships or use of Apprenticeship vacancies:
Promote our enhanced personalised service for year olds to support Apprenticeship application
National Careers Service – For those under 18, face to face is not available but a telephone and web service is offered
NAS Personalised service – offer of discussion & advice from a careers adviser (NCS); Av specific help with their application form/hints & tips about completing form; the opportunity to have face to face pre-Apprenticeship support from a local high quality expert

25. Apprenticeship vacancies
Below are just a few of the companies who have recently advertised their vacancies:
These are just a few of the employers that advertise Apprenticeship vacancies on the system:
Examples of vacancies:-
Intermediate Level Apprenticeship
Telecoms/ Network Engineer £200 per week
Receptionist £346 per week
Higher Apprenticeships:-
Aeronautical Engineering £245 per week
(BAE Systems) Management £400 per week
(includes on –the- job training coupled with studying for qualifications in Project Control and Project Management to degree level.)
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26. Website Resources – Partners – Information, advice and guidance section
PowerPoint presentations
Links to films and case studies
Downloadable brochures and fact sheets
Apprenticeship Advisers Guide/Checklist – information and referral routes
Lesson plans
Year 9-11 school workbook
Future Careers Lesson Plan and Workbook
Guide to Apprenticeship job roles linked to curriculum subjects
Designed for teachers, career advisers and anyone offering information, advice and guidance to individuals about skills, training, employment and career prospects.
These resources include everything you need to know about Apprenticeships; the opportunities, the benefits, and how an individual can search and apply for Apprenticeships vacancies online.
Apprenticeship Advisers Guide –will help you respond appropriately to all Apprenticeship related enquiries from parents, employers, partners and potential and existing Apprentices. Also gives you information about referral routes and further support.
Lesson Plans – huge variety – support your students to learn about Apprenticeships, the opportunities and prospects within vocational education and how to search and apply for Apprenticeship vacancies.
Future Careers, gives teachers and careers advisors a chance to explore the concept of skills and how existing skills and curriculum subjects can be linked to future careers.
There is also a table which maps various job roles to existing Apprenticeship frameworks.

27. Applying for an Apprenticeship
You can also download the free smartphone app ‘AV Search’
QR Code
You can also download the ‘Av Search’ application for android or i-phone to search for Apprenticeship vacancies while on the go.
If you have a smartphone you can also scan in the QR code to go straight there.
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28. Traineeships are designed for unemployed young people aged 16-23 who:-
can secure (after help on the traineeship programme) an Apprenticeship or job within six months of starting the Traineeship
are not “Apprenticeship ready”
The age range ‘16-18’ refers to young people aged 16, 17 or 18 on 31 August in the relevant funding year.
The age range ‘19-24’ refers to young people aged 19, 20 or 21or 22 or 23 on 31 August in the relevant funding year.
For year olds, employers will have the flexibility to work with young people who have a full Level 2 qualifications but not full Level 3, reflecting the need for young people aged to undertake high quality work experience in preparation for employment.
For year olds, the programme will be available only for those who have not yet achieved their first full Level 2 qualification.

29. Traineeship Duration
The duration of Traineeships will be a maximum of six months
The aim of Traineeships is to secure young people’s progression to an Apprenticeship or sustainable job as quickly as possible. Where young people successfully progress earlier than anticipated, we will ensure that this is counted as completing the Traineeship.
We expect the duration of the work placement within a Traineeship to be at least six weeks and no more than five months.

30. What is a Traineeship? – 4 elements
A high quality work placement to give the young person meaningful experience, develop workplace skills, and provide an opportunity to prove themselves to an employer.
A focused period of work preparation training. This might focus on areas like CV writing, interview preparation, job search, self-discipline and inter-personal skills
The flexibility to include other elements such as vocational/industry specific content & qualifications
English and maths for young people who
have not achieved a GCSE Grade C or equivalent.

31. Who can deliver Traineeships
In 2013/2014, providers are only eligible to deliver traineeship provision if they have achieved an Ofsted inspection grade of Outstanding (Grade 1) or Good (Grade 2).
Apprenticeship providers must not use Apprenticeship budget to deliver Traineeships.
Provider Traineeship allocations must be used for the sole purpose of delivering Traineeships.
If you are a lead provider with a funding agreement to deliver Traineeships, you can subcontract to existing subcontractors who had been declared on the Subcontracting Register at 1st of June 2013. 31

32. Apprenticeships Enhanced referral service – directory of provision
Inspiring the Future’ – ‘speakers into schools’ initiative
Career Crowd National School Tour
enhanced personalised service for year olds to support Apprenticeship applications. Contact every year old that has been unsuccessful with their Av applications by and text; offering them bespoke 121 support with their on-line Av applications; also offering to refer them to the National Careers Service contact centre so they can receive career information, advice and guidance.
We also are collating a directory of all Apprenticeship provision so we can effectively refer individuals to their most ‘local’ relevant training provider/college to obtain the additional support they need.
Inspiring the Future - Providing high quality individuals and employers into the system to deliver our consistent, accurate IAG messages into schools. (Education and Employers Task Force.) Individuals that are willing to provide careers related talks are matched with schools in their area that are looking for speakers. Schools register on the system and choose speakers that most closely meet their needs. This system matches schools with employers/employees who have registered and volunteered to give presentations and advice on careers and progression routes.
- Career Crowd National School tour – starting Dec 2013-Dec Focusing on years 11-13– Innovative, engaging, interactive career choices workshop session delivered by Not Going to Uni and My Kinda Crowd (Cragg Rats.)

33. Summary You can now help your students / clients: Explore Choose Apply
Secure an Apprenticeship or Traineeship
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34. Next steps Visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Explore the ‘Partner’ Tab – IAG resources
Watch the videos at
Sign up on Inspiring the Future for a speaker to visit your school and volunteer
Request a ‘Career Crowd’ visit for your Years 11-13
Follow Apprenticeships on Facebook
Dedicated IAG Address
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